(Jellyfish)
Animal-Wise expands on Ted Andrews first book, Animal-Speak, and is also a companion to Animal-Wise Tarot. A New Age shaman, Ted Andrews gained his knowledge of animals as a wildlife rehabilitator of birds of prey and small mammals. In writing this book on animals, he states, “My approach is universal, drawing upon my own naturalistic and mystical experiences and education. I have tried to incorporate the science with the mystical, the zoology with mythology, seeking out the common threads running through all traditions about the animals.” He partly succeeds in his efforts, but often veers off by presenting contradicatory information about the animals.
Mr. Andrews first discusses how to understand the language of nature. He offers suggestions on how to learn about and from animals, such as quietly watch the animals as they go about their activities. The author writes, “Feel and imagine yourself as part of the environment, a part of the natural surroundings. Quietly observe the various sounds.” He stresses that by observing, the reader can begin to know the natural world.
Since Mr. Andrews is familiar with shamanistic practices, he presumes that the reader is also. Also, the author assumes that the reader understands New Age concepts, as well. For example, in the section on creating “your inner totem pole” by associating animals to human charkas, he takes for granted that the reader follows what he is doing.
(Garden Snail)
Mr. Andrews has a propensity to leap from one unrelated concept to another in an animal’s teaching. For example, he starts one of his teachings, “Snail has often been associated with the death (sic) and the spirits of the dead.” At the end of Snail’s lesson, with little transition, Ted Andrews writes, “Snails as messengers remind us that the Holy Child (inner child) still lives with in us. It is often a sign that it is time to bring that child out once more. Remember that all is possible to the Holy Child within.”
Here is an excerpt from Jellyfish’s lesson: “For those who are involved in psychic and spirit communications, caution is necessary when the jellyfish appears as a messenger. It may seem harmless and even fun, but it easy to get stung. Extra caution is needed in working with the spirit realm.” Jellyfish’s teaching is “growth through defined division of labor, and caution when working with spirits.”
Animal-Wise is one of the few “animal wisdom” books that features a full complement of Crawling Ones, Cold-Blooded Ones, and Finned and Water Ones. Ted Andrews has a wide assortment of Cold-Blooded Ones ranging from Snapping Turtle to Sea Turtle to Salamander. This book will complete a reader’s “animal wisdom” library.
Purchase this book and other animal wisdom books by Ted Andrews from Amazon.com.
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Pictures of "Jellyfish", "Snail", and "Green Frog" copyrighted by Mary Ann Sterling
Va. Carper
August 9, 2005